Fiqh of Heart: Going Beyond the Physical Aspect of Islam

When we talk about the teachings of Islam, we are inclined to focus on one aspect, that is, the apparent practical side, and ignore the other, equally or even more important, spiritual and ethical aspect. That is why most of the questions addressed to scholars are related to the body movements and physical aspects: where to set hands while standing in prayers; how many rounds one should go during Tawaf; when to start and finish fasting, etc. Of course this physical aspect of worship is important but it is not the end of the story. Actions of the body cannot&hellip;

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When we talk about the teachings of Islam, we are inclined to focus on one aspect, that is, the apparent practical side, and ignore the other, equally or even more important, spiritual and ethical aspect.

That is why most of the questions addressed to scholars are related to the body movements and physical aspects: where to set hands while standing in prayers; how many rounds one should go during Tawaf; when to start and finish fasting, etc.

Of course this physical aspect of worship is important but it is not the end of the story. Actions of the body cannot substitute the role to be played by one’s heart is no less significant. The Quran and Sunnah highlight this aspect repeatedly when talking about different acts of worship. Prayers, Fasting, Zakah and Hajj should leave an impact on your character; acts of worship should make you a better person. Otherwise, there is something wrong with your `ibadah, even if it is done in the most perfect manner.

About
Dr. Jasser Auda

Jasser Auda is a Professor and Al-Shatibi Chair of Maqasid Studies at the International Peace College South Africa, the Executive Director of the Maqasid Institute, a global think tank based in London, and a Visiting Professor of Islamic Law at Carleton University in Canada. He is a Founding and Board Member of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Member of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, Fellow of the Islamic Fiqh Academy of India, and General Secretary of Yaqazat Feker, a popular youth organization in Egypt. He has a PhD in the philosophy of Islamic law from University of Wales in the UK, and a PhD in systems analysis from University of Waterloo in Canada. Early in his life, he memorized the Quran and studied Fiqh, Usul and Hadith in the halaqas of Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo. He previously worked as: Founding Director of the Maqasid Center in the Philosophy of Islamic Law in London; Founding Deputy Director of the Center for Islamic Ethics in Doha; professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada, Alexandria University in Egypt, Islamic University of Novi Pazar in Sanjaq, Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies, and the American University of Sharjah. He lectured and trained on Islam, its law, spirituality and ethics in dozens of other universities and organizations around the world. He wrote 25 books in Arabic and English, some of which were translated to 25 languages.